Stable Mates: New Young Pony Club

They may live to regret the name, but the unlimited scope for equine-related puns for the south London quintet seems limitless. Horsing around aside, New Young Pony Club are reclining on the PopWorld sofa at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, fresh from making their debut UK live TV performance on Channel 4’s Transmission for forthcoming single ‘Ice Cream’. Their mood has a post-coital feel to it, exuding a confidence that prompted many ahs from the audience during the performance.

It’s been a whirlwind last two years for New Young Pony Club. Co-founded in 2004 by affable guitarist Andy and charismatic lead singer Tahita, debut 45 ‘Ice Cream’ was snapped up by magpie fans in three days, but its very limited circulation saw it overlooked by much of the UK music press. This month’s re-release of ‘Ice Cream’ feels less a cynical cash-in and more a chance to get to know the Pony’s a little better, for the family has grown. Last year NYPC welcomed gigantic, floppy blonde haired bassist Igor, doe-eyed drummer Sarah, and shy but alluring keyboardist Lou to the paddock.

Despite only one release to their name NYPC’s sound takes in robot rock, soul, afro beat, funk and post-electroclash. Mostly, they are themselves, which is a melting pot of influences as diverse and idiosyncratic as their personalities. They speak in actions not words, choosing to move off the PopWorld sofa and on to the rug on the floor. Now a sprawling octopus of limbs, the band is very much led by spokesperson Tahita, save the odd remark from Andy and Igor’s booming laugh, Lou and Sarah are mute but observant throughout.

There’s a gang mentality about NYPC which outsiders might find impregnable. They insist band rows are confined to who gets the biggest portion of cake and chocolate on the rider, “And whether our Harley Street doctor is from Scotland,” Andy adds sardonically, but their explanations follow a logic only a New Young Pony might understand.

“The pony thing is kind of a double meaning,” Tahita explains in her husky, suggestive voice. “You can think about little girls and ponies and think ‘aw that’s really cute’, but I was kind of thinking about that whole fetish scene,” she adds. “That kind of double meaning captures the sound of the band, which is quite saucy and silly but quite sweet at the same time.”